Take A Walk, Find A Sword?

Earlier this summer when eight-year-old Saga Vanecek was splashing in the waters of a southern Swedish lake, she was hoping to find respite from the heat, but she ended up finding much more. As she was swimming, she pulled out what she thought was a long stick. However, when she noticed a handle and a long piece of rusted metal, she realized she had found a sword. Her local museum took some time to evaluate the sword and confirmed that it was a fifth- or sixth-century relic, dating back to the Viking era.

via Jönköpings läns museum

For a sword that survived so many decades, archeologists said it was well-preserved. They asked the family to keep the sword a secret while they sent professionals to scout the area for other artifacts. That turned out to be a wise move, since any such announcement might have invited a lot of tourists and curious people hoping to discover other historical pieces! The search team scouted the waters and the nearby land, and sure enough, they found a brooch from the same era.

Both pieces are now part of the local museum. But wait—does Saga get a reward for discovering such a remarkable treasure? Not really, but she sure does get bragging rights for finding a real Viking sword one summer’s day in Sweden!

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